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Hand played on |
May 2006, Great Burstead Bridge Club |
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Board number |
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Dealer |
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Vulnerability |
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Submitted by |
Frank Morrison |
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North ♠ KJ7 ♥ J92 ♦ J82 ♣ A874 |
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West ♠ 42 ♥ Q83 ♦ T764 ♣ KT92 |
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East ♠ QT963 ♥ T76 ♦ Q53 ♣ Q3 |
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North |
Bidding:
East |
South (Frank) |
West |
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South ♠ A85 ♥ AK54 ♦ AK9 ♣ J65 |
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3NT
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End |
2NT |
No |
Frank writes:
Our
bidding system is Benji ACOL hence we open 2NT with 19 to 20 points and use 2♣-2♦
2NT to show 21/22 points
West led the ♣2, (4th highest) I thought of putting up the Ace to block the suit if East doesn’t unblock, I assumed that West would not lead away from two honours against a 2NT opening, but where do I go from there if the spade finesse is wrong? Despite having 29 points I have only seven top tricks, perhaps one more from hearts if they are 3/3 or if the Q is with west. So I decided to play low with the intention of losing 4 tricks to tighten the position and hoping for a squeeze to develop. East won with the Q and returned the 3 to the 6, 9 and Ace.
Then
came the following.
Trick 3: ♥ 2-6-A-3
Trick 4: ♥ 4-Q-9-7
Trick 5: ♣ K-7-♠9-J - the ♠9 asking for a spade switch
Trick 6: ♣ T-8-♥T-♦9
Trick 7: ♠ 4-J-Q-A
Trick 8: ♥ 5-8-J-S3
Trick 9: ♦2-3-A-4
Leaving this 4-card ending, with the lead in the South hand:
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North ♠ K7 ♥ ♦ J8 ♣ |
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West ♠ 2 ♥ ♦ T76 ♣ |
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East ♠ T6 ♥ ♦ Q5 ♣ |
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South ♠ 85 ♥ K ♦ K ♣ |
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Trick 10: ♥ K-♠2-♠7-? At this point East can choose his own poison. If he throws a spade I will cash the ♠K then cross to the ♦K and cash the spade. If he throws a diamond I cash the ♦K, return to the ♠K and cash the ♦J. This play is an example of a criss-cross squeeze!! At the table he threw a spade.